A Manx-based software company has begun selling its free alternative to Microsoft Windows through two huge American retailers.

Canonical Software is selling Ubuntu, its Linux system, through Best Buy and Amazon for around $20.

The software is already available for free download online and anybody can copy it or pass it on, as Canonical makes its money by selling technical support.

The $19.99 boxed version of Ubuntu includes a printed manual and 60 days of unlimited support.

Canonical hopes the convenient presentation will reach out to as many people as possible and says the retail sales are just another distribution channel.

(Image: The Ubuntu logo).